Valley's Sweet Adelines A Sharp Musical Group

October 31, 1985|by JANIS BARNEY, The Morning Call

For 27 years, the Lehigh Valley chapter of Sweet Adelines, Inc., has been trying "to harmonize the world."

The 50 members of the group believe a little music can lift the spirits of a person who is "down and out," explained Carolyn Kauffman, publicity chairman. They sing a wide variety of music, from Broadway show tunes to the jazz numbers they will be performing in their annual program this weekend.

They will be taking their theme of harmonizing the world a little further when they donate part of the proceeds from their program to Dream Come True, Inc., a group which grants the wishes of children faced with serious illness.

When the chorus performs for money, it always donates a portion of its earnings to its "favorite charity," a different one each year, Kauffman explained.

What they keep for themselves barely covers their expenses, which include costumes, shoes, risers and renting a place for rehearsals. The women, who are not allowed to hire someone to make their costumes, sew their own, she said, explaining how members who can sew help those who cannot.

Some of the women have formed barbershop quartets within the chorus, and sometimes perform on their own along with appearing in the chorus' shows.

Two of the local chapter's quartets, Sunny Side Up and Satin 'N Lace, are registered with the international Sweet Adelines organization. They will be performing at the show, along with a third quartet that does not yet have a name.

This year's program is called "All That Jazz" and will trace jazz from its origins in New Orleans to its growing popularity all over the world.

Two performances will be given at Saucon Valley High School in Hellertown. The first will be at 8:15 p.m. Saturday and the second at 2 p.m. Sunday. For ticket information, call 863-4742 or 866-2973. Kauffman said free tickets for senior citizens homes are available.

Members of the group come from across the Lehigh Valley, "from Wind Gap to Quakertown," Kauffman said. "We would love to grow," she added, saying that women between the ages of 16 and 80 are welcome to go to one of the weekly rehearsals. The group meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. in St. John's Lutheran Church, 835 Third St., Whitehall.

The group learns a lot of new songs for each year's show. Those songs then become a part of their repertoire, to be used year-round.

For competitions, "we have to have a song that's almost letter perfect," Kauffman said. Along with deciding how "harmoniously" the performers sing together, judges look at things like eye and facial expression and costume and hair design.

The Lehigh Valley chapter has consistently placed fifth in the regional competitions held in the spring. Kauffman said the top spots are usually taken by the larger groups, one reason the local group is anxious for new members.

She compared belonging to the group to belonging to a sorority. There are various offices, including the one she holds as publicity chairman, and one "can learn a lot about getting along with other women," she said.

In addition, a member of the Lehigh Valley chapter is automatically a member of any chapter. "It's a good way to get to know people in a strange town," if you move, she said.

Performing in shows and competitions with the group gives the members a "sense of accomplishment," she added. And, as a member of a quartet, members can perform and earn money on their own.

Kauffman stressed the wide range of music the group performs, saying that many people have the wrong idea that the group performs barbershop music from the 1890s. While the group is able to perform such numbers, "of course, you can't be singing the same songs for 27 years."